What An Awesotronic Year!

It’s almost shocking that we are already through with the 2010/2011 academic year! Indeed, how time flies. I can still vividly remember the Freshers’ Week/Jumpstart events at the beginning of the Fall term and then our very first Semester I lectures which gradually built up to the exams. Now, it’s almost two weeks since our last Semester II exams and I cannot but marvel at what an eventful academic year it has been.

It’s been a year filled with new experiences, new friends, new concepts, new ways of doing things, new modules, new challenges, new lecturers, new adventures, new pitfalls, new nuisances too and so many others. Of course, it wasn’t in any way perfect. For example, I now look back at some of the things I intended to do at the start of the year but never got round to getting them done – due to procrastination and continuous postponements.

However, on a brighter side, it was my first year in the best department of electronics and computer science in the UK – a year which exposed me to some of the best experts in their fields! On a lighter note, it was also a year in which I think I received the most number of emails ever – some relevant, some not so relevant. I also got exposed to potential employers through careers events and open days both at the university and at employers’ venue.

But one of the most exciting aspects for me remains the hands-on practical demonstration of taught concepts in the labs throughout the year. I remember particularly our design of a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) which got manufactured and has my name and that of my lab partner printed on it. Also, our T1 project which had us designing a Toon generator was quite exciting and an eye-opener to the kind of projects we will be undertaking next year. I can’t perfectly describe the sense of pride and fulfillment that filled my lab partner and me when we were able to get our generator producing the selected tunes (though it wasn’t as loud as expected).

As I now get into the summer holiday gear and get ready to commence my internship which the last year has prepared me for, I can only anticipate with great hope and expectation the next academic year. Indeed, what an awesotronic year it has been! (…and just in case you are wondering, awesotronic is coined from awesome electronic).